St Austell Bay Business Survey

Early Results

If you wish to know more about the St. Austell Bay Buisness survey or complete it online please click here.  

If you would like a paper version sent to you, please email secretary@staustellchamber.co.uk 

 

 

The Businesses Mix:

• The survey completed by a broad and diverse mixes of businesses (Chartered accountants, solicitors, a bank, a dentist practice, a vet surgery, business and recruitment consultants, a supermarket, hairdressers, retailers, café’s, hotels and pubs etc.)
• The largest employer who responded to the survey was Cornwall College; the oldest business, Coodes, has been trading in town for 270 years. In contrast, the views of sole traders and those who had been trading for less than the year have been also sought.
• 63% of businesses that responded traded within the BID boundary although not all were BID levy payers.
• 46% trade ONLY within St. Austell and how no other outlets. 
• The survey does not show an exact mix of businesses within St. Austell Town Centre or the whole of the area, it is representative sample only.
• Approximately 40% of those distributed were returned.

 

Questions were divided into the following sections:

BUSINESS SUPPORT e.g. training needs and organisations.

This was really to get feedback specifically for the Chamber. Are we supporting? And is offering and facilitating training something we should concentrate our energies into?

FUTURE ECONOMIC STRATEGY AND PLANNING – what’s best for all business?

Something of a ‘last minute’ addition and with the aim to inform the TFP in terms of ‘economic development’, LEP, LEADER, Council and other groups.

MARKETING FUTURE ST. AUSTELL BAY –looking for the positive assets in the area.

Information gathering, useful in terms of ‘branding, shared values, marketing…i.e. what is St. Austell’s unique identity etc. makes it special.

RISKS, COMPETITION, AND THREATS –what affects your business future?

CRIME, ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, CLEANLINESS -does this affect your business?

SALES, CUSTOMERS AND TRADING PATTERNS –identifying changes

 

 

RECORDED ANSWERS to a SELECTION of questions from the whole survey are shown below. Early results show some interesting to some of the key questions. PLEASE NOTE, the following questions represent a fraction of survey. 30 questions / responses have been sought in the total survey. 

 

FUTURE ECONOMIC STRATEGY AND PLANNING

1. “St. Austell needs to define a clear strategy to attract future inward investment and encourage greater economic growth.

In terms of enabling and accelerating business growth both for your business and in the area, to what extent do you consider the following types of planning schemes to be of major importance?”

The following examples were given:

• New link road to the A30
• New technology park / Innovation Centre
• Land for bigger industrial /factory units
• Increase retail provision in the area
• Eco Community
• Carlyon Bay Redevelopment Scheme

 (See graph relating to this question below)

 

2. “In terms of attracting shoppers to St. Austell, increasing local spend in the area, providing jobs and accelerating local business growth what type of retail scheme do you think would have the greatest positive impact for St. Austell?”

• Town Centre (Old Vicarage Place)
• Edge of Town (Penwinnick Road / Holmbush)
• Out of Town (Coyte Farm)

(See graph relating to this question below)

• 4 out of 5 see Coyte Farm and Town Centre redevelopment as making a positive difference. However the point of difference comes in the other 1 in 5.
• For the Town Centre almost a 1/5th don't think redevelopment and new shops will make any difference.
• In contrast, there's less uncertainly with Coyte as 1/5th believe it will have a negative effect.

 

 

RISKS, COMPETITION, AND THREATS –what affects your business future?

3. Businesses were asked what were the current threats and risks to their businesses at the current time and that they believed may have affected their trade?

• 40% of the businesses that answered this question stated that Parking Charges were a challenge to their customers and put people off using the town.
• The second biggest threat after this was a business rate, of which 18% stated this was a threat to the viability of their business at the current time.

 4. “What can be done in ST AUSTELL to improve the town centre experience and increase footfall and trade?”

• 21% said that reducing the parking charges, making more accessible parking, or making free parking one day or afternoon once a week or month.

  

CRIME, ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, CLEANLINESS -does this affect your business?

• Most businesses surveyed are not affected at all.
• Those who were affected, anti-social behaviour followed by rubbish and lack of cleanliness were cited as having a serious, or some negative effect, on their business
• Shoplifting scored lowest. 

(See graph relating to this question below)